Alec Ogletree declares for NFL draft

ORLANDO - Alec Ogletree has made it official: The junior linebacker is going pro, forgoing his final year of eligibility with the Georgia football team.

"I'm leaving this year, this is my last game," Ogletree said after Georgia's 45-31 win over Nebraska. "It was a great run while I was here, just want to take a chance on this opportunity to go to the NFL and pursue my dreams."

Ogletree is projected by many analysts to be a first-round pick. He said he applied to the NFL draft advisory committee, but had not heard back yet.

"You don't know where you're gonna get drafted at, but I just felt it was the right opportunity for me to go, and just based on my parents and coaches and stuff like that, I feel like I've got a good hold on the situation," he said.

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His final play at Georgia is a sack: Ogletree took down Nebraska's Taylor Martinez to seal the win.

"It's great," Ogletree said. "I was real joyous. Coach called up a blitz for me, and I just took advantage of it and made the sack."

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said he had already spoken to Ogletree.

"I know he's a dynamic player. I know he can be a special inside backer, that's why we moved him there," said Grantham, who spent 11 years as a defensive assistant in the NFL prior to coming to Georgia in 2010. "I think his future's really bright because he's a young player at that position. I wish him nothing but the best, and know that he's a guy that can continue to improve and be a pretty dynamic player."

About Jason Butt

Jason Butt joined The Telegraph after covering high school sports for The Washington Post. A 2009 University of Georgia graduate, he's also covered the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons for CBSSports.com.